Name profile

BoyPronounced English /ˈtɹɪs.tən/; French /tʁis.tɑ̃/Welsh language family

Tristán

Probably from the old Pictish name Drustan, a diminutive of Drust.

Quick answer

Tristán is a boy name.

Pronunciation: English /ˈtɹɪs.tən/; French /tʁis.tɑ̃/.

GenderBoy
PronunciationEnglish /ˈtɹɪs.tən/; French /tʁis.tɑ̃/
Language familyWelsh

Meaning and history

Probably from the old Pictish name Drustan, a diminutive of Drust. As Tristan, it first appears in 12th-century French tales, probably altered by association with Old French triste "sad". It may have been transmitted to French via Welsh, which spelled the name as Trystan or Drystan. According to the tales Tristan was sent to Ireland by his uncle King Mark of Cornwall in order to fetch Iseult, who was to be the king's bride. On the way back, Tristan and Iseult accidentally drank a potion that made them fall in love. Later versions of the tale make Tristan one of King Arthur 's knights. His tragic story was very popular in the Middle Ages, and the name has occasionally been used since then.

Notes and context

Usage: english, french, arthurian cycle